Most of the world might still be getting to grips with the rollout of 5G technology and standards, but researchers from Japan and Finland are already working towards the next generation of wireless communications.
As part of a joint research commitment between the two countries, researchers from the University of Tokyo and Finland’s University of Oulu will be drawing up a roadmap for the 6G standard, as well as working on the technological components that will be required.
The two parties believe that international cooperation is essential in the development of 6G as shared standards encourage the adoption of the technology across borders.
Professor Akihiro Nakao from the University of Tokyo said that the development of 6G was not only about increasing speeds and response times, but the next generation of wireless technology would also aim for massive improvements in terms of power efficiency, as well as becoming more secure as quantum technology was brought to bear.
Other developments could include network optimisation driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and integration with satellite networks.
Prof Nakao said that all this would provide a more “seamless experience” as people communicated with each other and interacted with a wide range of devices and services in everyday life.
6G could have potential in healthcare and disaster response
Some potential applications could include healthcare and disaster response.
In a healthcare setting, low-power 6G sensors could be embedded in various settings and communicate health-related data to clinicians and systems in real time.
In the field of disaster response, communications could be maintained via satellite integration, meaning that essential lines would be open even if ground-based infrastructure was disrupted.
This could be particularly important in Japan, where natural disasters including tsunamis, floods and volcanoes pose more of a risk than in most places around the world.
Prof Nakao said that in some ways, 6G felt more like “a social infrastructure” than a purely technological communications infrastructure.
The collaboration has already attracted funding for 10 projects on the national scale, including ones involved with augmented reality, satellite communications and semiconductor development.
As well as these large-scale projects, the partners hope to bring their research to their respective university campuses, where they will offer immersive remote lectures on the capabilities of 6G before the technology is rolled out to the public.
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